Fifth - Eighth Grade
Our literacy program emphasizes deep thinking, text analysis, and strong written expression. Teachers use ongoing assessments to understand each student’s reading and writing needs, providing individualized feedback through conferences and close observation. Students read a variety of fiction and nonfiction texts, learning to identify themes, analyze author’s craft, and cite textual evidence. Writing units focus on literary essays, research-based articles, and narrative writing, with grammar and vocabulary embedded throughout. Across both grades, literacy instruction aligns with the New Jersey Student Learning Standards and encourages students to read with insight and write with clarity, purpose, and voice.
Math instruction in grades five and six emphasizes conceptual understanding, procedural fluency, and real-world application. Using the Savvas enVision Mathematics program, students explore topics such as operations, algebraic thinking, fractions, geometry, ratios, and data analysis through hands-on, problem-solving approaches. Students are encouraged to explain their thinking, apply multiple strategies, and construct viable arguments. Math lessons prioritize collaboration and perseverance, helping students develop mathematical reasoning and confidence in tackling complex problems.
Our science program fosters curiosity, critical thinking, and investigation. Using the FOSS curriculum aligned to the Next Generation Science Standards, students engage in hands-on, inquiry-based learning across the disciplines of Earth, Life, and Physical Sciences. In fifth grade, students explore foundational concepts through experimentation and data analysis, while sixth grade focuses on life science topics such as microbes, plants, human systems, and ecosystems. Lessons emphasize the scientific process, evidence-based reasoning, and the interdependence of living systems. This multi-year sequence is designed to prepare students for success on the NJSLA-Science assessment in eighth grade.
Social Studies instruction encourages students to explore history through multiple perspectives and develop a strong understanding of civic concepts. In fifth grade, students study early American history, including the Age of Exploration, Colonial America, and the American Revolution, with attention to the cultural and governmental impact of colonization and immigration. Sixth grade continues with the foundations of American government, expansion westward, and the causes and events of the Civil War, focusing on the development of democracy and law, the nation’s growth through conflict and change, and the impact of these events on diverse groups.The Amistad Curriculum is utilized. Across both grades, students engage in research, debates, role-play simulations, and writing assignments that promote historical thinking, empathy, and informed citizenship. Connections to current events help students apply historical knowledge to the world around them.
5th - 6th
Our 5th and 6th grade program focuses on a critical period of academic and personal growth. Our new cohort model allows a team of teachers to work collaboratively across both grades, creating continuity, community, and deeper learning experiences. This configuration supports a more integrated and interdisciplinary approach while providing space for students to develop independence, strengthen collaboration skills, and assume leadership roles. In both grades, we prioritize building strong classroom communities and supporting students’ social-emotional development as they transition from the elementary to middle school years.
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7th - 8th
Our 7th and 8th grade program is designed to meet the evolving social-emotional needs of adolescents while engaging them in rigorous, meaningful learning experiences. We emphasize student voice and choice, encouraging independence and ownership of learning through interdisciplinary projects, community service opportunities, and collaborative work. Students are challenged to think critically, solve real-world problems, and design innovative solutions. With a focus on relationships, relevance, and reflection, we foster a learning environment that supports emotional growth, intellectual curiosity, and active citizenship.
We offer one period a day, 4 days a week for Middle School students to engage in seminars that provide a variety of creative, intellectual, and physical learning opportunities, allowing students to explore new interests while developing valuable skills! The seminars run for two sessions. The first seminar session runs from September - January and the second seminar session runs from January - June. Each seminar runs twice a week and the middle school school students choose the seminars that most interest them.
Seminars are taught by a combination of Elysian teachers, teaching artists, and community members. Some of our instructors are artists/designers working in the field and others are college students who are studying to work in these fields.
In 7th and 8th grade Language Arts, students build on prior knowledge to become confident, analytical readers, writers, and communicators, aligned to the New Jersey Student Learning Standards (NJSLS) for English Language Arts. Through the study of diverse texts—including novels, short stories, poetry, and informational media—students examine the literary elements that make fictional texts effective and the language that makes non-fictional texts concise. Students delve into the figures of speech like metaphor, simile, symbolism, personification, etc., and author’s purpose to become independent thinkers that can analyze and comprehend complex themes, narratives, structures, and voices. They engage in a variety of activities to foster their creative and academic writing skills that include book clubs, podcasts, and creative projects. Consistent vocabulary study, grammar instruction, and structured lessons in essay writing ensure that students gain the language skills and mechanics needed to communicate clearly and effectively. Speaking and listening skills are strengthened through collaborative discussions, presentations, and multimedia projects. As students progress through these two critical years, they grow as critical thinkers and reflective learners—well-prepared for the demands of high school English and beyond.
Grade 7
In 7th Grade Math, students build upon their foundational skills from 6th grade as they deepen their understanding of number operations, algebra, geometry, and data analysis. They develop fluency with operations involving positive and negative integers, explore proportional relationships using tables, graphs, and equations, and apply percentages to real-world problems. Algebraic thinking is extended through writing and solving multi-step equations and inequalities. Students also engage in geometric reasoning by analyzing two- and three-dimensional figures, calculating area, surface area, volume, and exploring scale drawings. The year concludes with a study of probability, where students compare theoretical and experimental outcomes through hands-on projects. These experiences prepare students for the abstract reasoning and problem-solving required in 8th grade and beyond.
Grade 8
8th Grade Pre-Algebra, students solidify the foundational skills needed for success in Algebra 1 by deepening their understanding of real numbers, linear relationships, and algebraic thinking. They analyze rational and irrational numbers, apply scientific notation to real-world contexts, and solve multi-step linear equations—including equations with one, no, or infinitely many solutions. Students explore linear functions in the form y = mx + b, build fluency with interpreting graphs and equations, and are introduced to the concept of functions. The course also includes geometric transformations, the Pythagorean Theorem, and volume of three-dimensional figures. In preparation for high school math, students investigate systems of equations, exponential functions, and foundational statistics. Through real-world applications and problem-solving, students gain the confidence and skills necessary for the rigor of Algebra 1.
Algebra I in 8th grade is a fast-paced, high school-level course that emphasizes independent thinking, abstract reasoning, and the application of advanced mathematical concepts. Students begin by analyzing data through statistical measures such as five-number summaries, box plots, and measures of central tendency. They explore proportional and inverse variation, develop fluency with linear equations and inequalities, and model real-world situations using functions in slope-intercept and standard form. Building on this foundation, students solve systems of linear equations and apply function notation to explore linear, exponential, and quadratic functions. Through transformations of parent functions, exponent rules, scientific notation, and quadratic analysis including the use of the quadratic formula, students deepen their understanding of structure, patterns, and relationships. By the end of the course, students are equipped with the algebraic tools and conceptual understanding necessary for continued success in high school mathematics.
Seventh Grade Science follows the Next Generation Science Standards (NGSS), engaging students in hands-on, inquiry-based investigations that connect scientific concepts to real-world applications. Students explore Earth’s systems through the study of planetary science, including Earth's relationship to the sun and moon, the seasons, and lunar phases,reinforced through scale models and experiments. The curriculum emphasizes physical science concepts such as waves, sound, and light, with students conducting investigations using tuning forks, filters, and spectroscopes. In the second half of the year, students apply knowledge of force and motion through experiments with spring scales, friction surfaces, and magnets, deepening their understanding of Newton’s Laws and energy transfer. Engineering challenges, including designing soundproof boxes and egg-drop devices, encourage problem-solving, creativity, and application of scientific principles. This course fosters curiosity, critical thinking, and foundational skills for future science learning. FOSS is the curriculum we use although we rely on many sources.
Eighth Grade Science is a hands-on, inquiry-based course aligned with the Next Generation Science Standards (NGSS), designed to deepen students' understanding of life, physical, and Earth sciences through real-world application and investigation. Students begin the year exploring biological evolution, biodiversity, and heredity, analyzing the fossil record, modeling genetic inheritance using Punnett Squares, and examining dominant and recessive traits. They investigate natural and artificial selection, exploring how environmental pressures and genetic variation drive adaptation and evolution. In the physical science units, students study atomic structure, elements, and the Periodic Table, then apply their knowledge through chemical investigations that explore properties of matter and evidence of chemical change. Students conduct multi-step experiments involving chemical reactions, solubility, and thermal energy transfer. The year concludes with a STEM design challenge in which students construct functioning roller coasters, applying principles of force, motion, gravity, and energy transfer. Through labs, models, and collaborative engineering tasks, students build scientific literacy and problem-solving skills essential for high school science and beyond.
7th Grade Social Studies challenges students to think critically about the foundations and evolution of the United States, with an emphasis on historical inquiry, civic understanding, and interdisciplinary connections. Through the examination of primary and secondary sources, students analyze key events from the founding of the nation through Reconstruction, exploring themes such as democracy, inequality, conflict, and reform. Connections to literature, science, and current events deepen understanding and foster real-world application. Students evaluate cause and effect, compare historical perspectives, and engage in debates, simulations, and project-based learning to develop argumentation, research, and presentation skills. This rigorous, discussion-driven course prepares students to be informed, thoughtful citizens and supports the development of academic skills essential for high school and beyond.
Eighth Grade Social Studies explores the development of ancient and medieval civilizations, focusing on how early societies laid the foundation for the modern world. Students examine the political systems, cultural achievements, and societal structures of civilizations such as Mesopotamia, Ancient Rome, and early Islamic empires. Through thematic inquiry and primary source analysis, students investigate how geography, leadership, belief systems, and conflict shaped historical change. The course emphasizes interdisciplinary connections and thesis-driven writing, helping students build strong research, argumentation, and critical thinking skills. This global, inquiry-based approach prepares students for more advanced historical study and fosters a deeper understanding of humanity’s shared past.